The plane landed with a faint jolt, and the recruits began streaming out into the crisp morning air. The atmosphere was quiet but brimming with anticipation. Seraphina stretched her arms, a yawn escaping her lips as she followed the others out.
William Carls stood near the exit, his sharp eyes sweeping over the group. "Alright, everyone," he announced, his voice carrying easily. "Head to your dormitories and get some rest. Training begins tomorrow at dawn, and trust me, you're going to need it."
Mia beamed, nudging Seraphina. "Ooh, this is the best part! I finally get a proper bed!"
Seraphina rolled her eyes. "You slept like a log on the trees."
"Trees are not beds, Sera," Mia deadpanned before grinning.
she bounced on her heels, her excitement practically spilling out. "Sera! I'll show you where the dorms are! The instructor told me before that my roommate would be arriving after the test, and it has to be you!"
Seraphina gave her a side glance, one brow raised. "It has to be? You sound awfully sure for someone who doesn't know yet."
"Just you wait!" Mia grinned, dragging Seraphina forward with an infectious energy. "If it's you, I'm going to scream. Sharing a room with my idol—what a dream come true!"
They reached the dormitory reception desk, a modest but orderly setup with a line of recruits ahead of them, all checking their room assignments. When it was their turn, the receptionist looked up expectantly.
"Names, please," she asked with a practiced neutrality.
Mia leaned on the counter and smiled. "Mia Rainfield."
The receptionist nodded, scanning the list. "Room 203."
"Yes, I know! I just want to know who my roommate is," Mia said excitedly, turning toward Seraphina.
The receptionist's gaze landed on Seraphina, waiting.
Seraphina sighed, almost dreading what was to come. "Seraphina Sinclair."
Mia was mid-leaning onto the desk; hearing the name, she slipped and nearly fell. She caught herself just in time,
Her grin vanished, replaced by a wide-eyed expression of shock. "Wait. Wait, wait, wait. What? SINCLAIR?" She grabbed Seraphina's arm, her voice rising. "Did you just say Sinclair? As in the Sinclair family?"
Seraphina groaned, rubbing her temple. "Mia, keep your voice down. You're making a scene."
But Mia wasn't deterred. She looked back and forth between Seraphina and the receptionist, her jaw practically on the floor. "You're telling me my idol—JJ herself—is from the second-ranked Sinclair family, and you didn't think to mention it?"
Sera, irritated, covered Mia's mouth shut and glanced at the receptionist.
The receptionist coughed lightly, clearly trying to remain professional while hiding her amusement. "Room 203. You two are indeed assigned as roommates."
Mia's eyes sparkled like she'd just won the lottery. "I knew it! I knew you were going to be my roommate! This is officially the best day of my life."
Seraphina rolled her eyes but couldn't help the slight smirk tugging at her lips. "Glad I could make your day, Mia."
as the two were about to go , a voice stopped them it was receptionst just now, she said ," Um c-c-can I get your autograph please." sounding little nervous.
Sera smiled and gave it to her.
Than ,the two headed toward their shared dorm, Mia practically skipping with excitement. When they reached the door to Room 203, Mia flung it open dramatically before sprinting inside and flopping onto the nearest bed.
"My bed!" she groaned, hugging the pillows as though they were precious treasures. "I missed you so much!"
Seraphina chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. "You're ridiculous."
Mia grinned from her nest of blankets but suddenly sat up, her excitement returning. "Oh my god. I'm roommates with a Sinclair! You're, like, a legend! Your father—"
"Mia," Seraphina interrupted, her tone flat. "Stop."
"But—"
"Stop."
Mia deflated but remained grinning, clearly unable to contain her delight.
Seraphina stepped further into the room and glanced around, her sharp eyes taking in the neat but bare setup. That's when it hit her. She muttered under her breath, "No change of clothes… no toothbrush… nothing—damn that old man."
Mia tilted her head. "What's wrong?"
Seraphina sighed, gesturing at herself. "I don't have anything, Mia. That lunatic of a grandfather of mine threw me into the middle of a forest without so much as a backpack, let alone basic necessities."
Just as she was finishing her sentence, a knock sounded at the door.
Seraphina and Mia exchanged glances before Seraphina moved to open it. Standing outside were two uniformed soldiers—faces she immediately recognized from her grandfather's command. They held two suitcases, a blanket, and a neat bundle of other essentials.
"General Sinclair instructed us to deliver these to you," one of the soldiers said, his voice crisp and formal.
Mia popped her head out from behind Seraphina, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Wow! Your grandpa sent all this? That's… convenient!"
The soldiers stepped inside, setting the suitcases down by Seraphina's bed. They gave a short salute before exiting, leaving Seraphina staring at the luggage in silence.
"Well," Mia said cheerfully, throwing a blanket onto Seraphina's bed, "it's good to have family, huh?"
Seraphina let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. "Family—or a meddlesome old man with too much free time."
Mia flopped back onto her bed, her smile as wide as ever. "Either way, this is going to be amazing. We're going to have so much fun as roommates!"
Seraphina smirked, shaking her head as she began unpacking. "You're a handful, you know that?"
Mia grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"well, lets sleep; we have to wake up early tomorrow"
Sera replies"hmn"